Benin

Introducing Benin

Benin was once one of the most powerful empires in Africa,
although today the country enjoys a low profile marked by peace,
and poverty. It's a country rich in history and culture located on
the northern coast of the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa, bordered
by Niger, Togo, Nigeria, Burkina Faso and the Atlantic Ocean. Benin
ranks as one of the world's poorest nations, but is also one of the
more stable countries to visit in Africa.

Benin played a major role in the slave trade in the 17th and
18th centuries and reminders of this era can be found in the
countless monuments paying tribute to those deported to the West
Indies and Brazil. It is in many aspects a very French country due
to its colonial heritage. Cotonou has its own Boul' Mich
(Boulevard Saint- Michel) and it is not uncommon to see
Beninois locals walking around, a baguette tucked under one arm and
a French newspaper clutched under the other.

There is a network of lagoons and swamps found along the
coastline, which are navigable throughout all seasons, connecting
rivers and big lakes, like Lake Aheme and Benin's longest river,
the Oueme. The beaches along the coast of Benin, at Ouidah and
Grand Popo, are also a major draw for tourists, but visitors should
be aware of the occasionally strong rip tides at sea and which
consequently limits water sport activities.

Benin was once the home of the ancient and powerful Dahomey
Kingdom, and the ruined palaces and temples of this proud and
intriguing culture can still be seen in Abomey. The museum in
Abomey takes visitors on an eerie journey back in time through the
history of the three ancient Abomey kingdoms. The museum used to be
the grand palace of one of the kingdoms and a spine-chilling throne
made of human skulls sits on display. The historic sites in Ouidah
are also worth visiting, including the Portuguese fort and a
colonial temple known as the Temple of the Sacred Python.

The northwest region is ruled by the Atakora Mountains, which
tower as high as 3,000 feet (914 metres) and offer wonderful hiking
opportunities. The two main tourist attractions are the national
parks: Pendjari National Park and 'W' National Park, which feature
a range of wildlife from hippos and crocodiles to the elusive
cheetah.

It may not be the first country that springs to mind when
thinking of a trip to West Africa, but Benin, the birthplace of
voodoo, is as fascinating as it may be challenging, and is well
worth exploring despite the general lack of tourist
infrastructure.

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